98 still unaccounted for from burned Greek ferry
"We heard people screaming" -Ferry survivor
Passengers stand on the deck as car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in the waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout photo provided by Marina Militare. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Marina Militare/Handout via Reuters)
In this image taken from a Dec. 28, 2014 video and made available Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 passengers of the Italian-flagged ferry Norman Atlantic wait to be rescued after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued from the ferry, most in daring, nighttime helicopter sorties that persisted despite high winds and seas, after a fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck. Both Italian and Greek authorities have announced criminal investigations into the cause of the blaze. Italian authorities warned Tuesday that more bodies will likely be found when the blackened hulk of a Greek ferry is towed to Italy, as part of a criminal investigation into the fire that engulfed the ship at sea, killing at least 11 of the more than 400 people on board. (AP Photo/APTN)
In this image taken from a Dec. 28, 2014 video and made available Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 passengers of the Italian-flagged ferry Norman Atlantic wait to be rescued after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued from the ferry, most in daring, nighttime helicopter sorties that persisted despite high winds and seas, after a fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck. Both Italian and Greek authorities have announced criminal investigations into the cause of the blaze. Italian authorities warned Tuesday that more bodies will likely be found when the blackened hulk of a Greek ferry is towed to Italy, as part of a criminal investigation into the fire that engulfed the ship at sea, killing at least 11 of the more than 400 people on board. (AP Photo/APTN)
In this image taken from a Dec. 28, 2014 video and made available Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 passengers of the Italian-flagged ferry Norman Atlantic wait to be rescued after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued from the ferry, most in daring, nighttime helicopter sorties that persisted despite high winds and seas, after a fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck. Both Italian and Greek authorities have announced criminal investigations into the cause of the blaze. Italian authorities warned Tuesday that more bodies will likely be found when the blackened hulk of a Greek ferry is towed to Italy, as part of a criminal investigation into the fire that engulfed the ship at sea, killing at least 11 of the more than 400 people on board. (AP Photo/APTN)
In this image taken from a Dec. 28, 2014 video and made available Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 passengers of the Italian-flagged ferry Norman Atlantic walk in the smoke after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued from the ferry, most in daring, nighttime helicopter sorties that persisted despite high winds and seas, after a fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck. Both Italian and Greek authorities have announced criminal investigations into the cause of the blaze. Italian authorities warned Tuesday that more bodies will likely be found when the blackened hulk of a Greek ferry is towed to Italy, as part of a criminal investigation into the fire that engulfed the ship at sea, killing at least 11 of the more than 400 people on board. (AP Photo/APTN)
In this image taken from a Dec. 28, 2014 video and made available Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic ferry that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. More than 400 people were rescued from the ferry, most in daring, nighttime helicopter sorties that persisted despite high winds and seas, after a fire broke out before dawn Sunday on a car deck. Both Italian and Greek authorities have announced criminal investigations into the cause of the blaze. Italian authorities warned Tuesday that more bodies will likely be found when the blackened hulk of a Greek ferry is towed to Italy, as part of a criminal investigation into the fire that engulfed the ship at sea, killing at least 11 of the more than 400 people on board. (AP Photo/APTN)
Fire fighting tug boats douche the burning car ferry Norman Atlantic in south Adriatic sea December 28, 2014. Hundreds of passengers were trapped on the ferry off Greece on Sunday, pleading to be rescued by a flotilla of nearby ships that battled storm conditions in open water to try to reach them. The Greek coastguard said 150 people had been saved from the Italian-registered Norman Atlantic, which was carrying almost 500 passengers and crew when it sent a distress signal after fire broke out on its lower deck. (REUTERS/Skai TV)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout photo provided by Marina Militare. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Marina Militare/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout photo provided by Marina Militare. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Marina Militare/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
The car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Coast Guard. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Guardia Costiera/Handout via Reuters)
Italian Coast Guard members carry a body as they arrive in the Brindisi harbour December 28, 2014. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)
Italian Coast Guard members carry a body as they arrive in the Brindisi harbour December 28, 2014. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)
A person is lifted on an Italian Navy helicopter as the car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Marina Militare. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Marina Militare/Handout via Reuters)
A person is lifted on an Italian Navy helicopter as the car ferry Norman Atlantic burns in waters off Greece December 28, 2014 in this handout video grab of the Italian Marina Militare. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Marina Militare/Handout via Reuters)
Italian Coast Guard members stand next a body as they arrive in the Brindisi harbour December 28, 2014. Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday. (REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)
In this photo taken from a nearby ship, smoke rises from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic ferry after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. The ferry carrying some hundreds of passengers caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu early Sunday, trapping passengers on the top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered their evacuation. (AP Photo/SKAI TV Station)
In this image provided by the Italian Navy, smoke billows from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic after it caught fire in the Adriatic Sea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. A fire erupted on a ferry carrying 478 people from Greece to Italy on Sunday, leaving one person dead and trapping hundreds on top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered evacuation. The Italian Navy said that the victim and an injured person were transported by helicopter to the southern Italian city of Brindisi on Sunday evening. Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the crippled ferry, battered by 90 kilometer per hour (55 mph) winds that pushed it toward the Albanian coast. (AP Photo/Italian Navy)
BRINDISI, Italy — Stormy weather in the Adriatic Sea thwarted efforts Wednesday to tow a fire-ravaged ferry to Italy so authorities can investigate the blaze that killed at least 11 people and search the ferry for more possible dead.
Ninety-eight people were still unaccounted for Wednesday after a pre-dawn fire raced through the Norman Atlantic ferry on Sunday, Bari prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
It’s not clear if those people ever boarded the ferry — which left Greece on Saturday bound for Italy — if they were rescued, or if they died in the fire or the sea. Hundreds were rescued but the exact number of ferry survivors is still not known.
Volpe said he hoped that Greek authorities would be able to say that many of those unaccounted for had arrived on various vessels in Greece.
He also told Sky TG24 TV it was important to have the ferry towed to Italy “to see if there are bodies aboard…to ascertain what caused the fire and to see if safety measures were respected.”
Volpe said until the wreck was examined, he couldn’t venture a possible cause for the blaze.
The Italian captain of the Italian-made ferry, which was operated by a Greek company, was questioned in the southern port of Bari by prosecutors for more than five hours Wednesday. Since a probe is underway, Volpe would not give any details about the questioning.
Nearly 40 survivors finally stepped ashore Wednesday in the Italian port of Taranto, brought by one of the cargo ships that rescued passengers from the flaming, smoke-shrouded ferry in the first hours of the maritime disaster. The blaze on the ferry’s car deck sent people scrambling for their lives in the freezing cold, pelted by rain and buffeted by gale-force winds on the uncovered top deck.
Amateur video made by two Turkish passengers who spent two days aboard the ferry showed clouds of black smoke belched up by the fire and bursts of flame as survivors lined up to be rescued by helicopters.
In the video, obtained by The Associated Press, Italian rescue helicopters hoisted survivors one by one via cords or inside wire baskets. Passengers in orange lifejackets and makeshift hats shifted their feet and shoved their hands in their pockets, trying to keep warm.
Snow fell Wednesday in usually temperate southern Italy, and winds whipping up to 70 kph (45 mph) made for rough seas as tugboat crew tried to secure the wreck.
“The shipwreck that we are towing is not anchored, and so it tends to move,” said Giusieppe Barretta, owner of the tug company. He estimated once the ferry is secured, the tow to Italy could take up to 12 hours.
The Norman Atlantic was closer to Albania’s shore than Italy’s and leaning slightly to the right, Barretta said. Smoke was still pouring out, probably from burning cars and tires inside, he said.
